The Asia Foundation 347d ago

A quiet transformation is taking place in Matara (Merauke) and Ayapo (Jayapura) in Indonesia, where violence against women—often driven by alcohol abuse—was once seen as a private matter. Survivors rarely reported abuse and traditional justice systems offered little protection for women. The Asia Foundation is fostering change through the BERDAYA program, funded by the New Zealand Government and supported by the Indonesian Government. In partnership with Perkumpulan Petrus Vertenten MSC Papua and Yayasan Harapan Ibu, BERDAYA promotes community and economic empowerment, including support for a women’s school in Merauke. Men, including village leaders, are now engaged in gender equality discussions—some even proposing a men’s school to support change further. By fostering strong partnerships, building institutional capacity, and ensuring local ownership, BERDAYA improved service standards for women facing violence in Papua. By the end of 2024, BERDAYA conducted nearly 100 sessions to strengthen CSO partners, training over 1,000 officials, CSOs, youth, and community members. These efforts enhanced their capacity to deliver services and advocate for policy change, supporting 858 individuals through legal aid, awareness campaigns, referrals, and safe spaces. BERDAYA’s support resulted in 11 new services and increased knowledge for 69% of participants on SOPs, case management, financial management, and gender-based violence service monitoring. Additionally, 64% showed an improved understanding of gender equality and violence against women. In total, the program helped establish five women’s groups. Four received legal recognition from village governments, enabling their full participation in village development.